Automatic wall cleansing apparatus

ABSTRACT

An automatic wall cleansing apparatus disclosed herein comprises a working platform, a lift unit, a supporting frame, a rotatable brush assembly, a blower unit, and a control unit. The working platform is moved up to a working position. By presetting with the control unit, the working platform is lifted to the topmost portion of the building and downwardly executing cleansing work with the aid of the wind supplied by the blower unit and rubbing operation by rotatable brush assembly. From supply of detergent, cleansing, spraying of clean water to drying by hot wind, all the steps are carried out automatically and successively without need of manual operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an automatic wall cleansingapparatus, and more particularly, to an automatic wall cleansingapparatus which can reduce the use of manpower and natural resources,and in addition, improve work safety.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] At present, wall cleansing for a high rise building is mostlycarried out by manpower, the most common procedure is to lift up workcrew with a winch car and settle them down at individual position, andthen let them begin to work. However, such a conventional working wayhas several shortcomings:

[0005] 1. A considerably large amount of labor and work time along withnecessary energy such as water and electric power are required resultingin a high cost.

[0006] 2. Skilful and experienced workers in this field are required.

[0007] 3. For a large high rise building with wide wall area, cleansingwork is not only tiresome and time consuming, but also causing a problemthat formerly finished portion may probably contaminated by dust or usedwater coming from adjacent portion. As a result, working efficiency islow with poor finished work.

[0008] 4. Work safety can not be satisfactorily assured because workmenhave to work at a high altitude dangerous environment.

[0009] Although, some improvements were made for the high rise buildingwall cleansing technique, for example, providing a small sizedelectrically driven cleansing device and certain corrosive strong acidicmaterials that were basically effective for improving cleansingtechnique. Yet the device and chemical materials are bulky or dangerousto store. A more reliable idea needs to be implemented for the sake offacilitating high rise building wall cleansing work.

[0010] Therefore, an invention devoting to resolving aforesaiddisadvantages of current practice in cleansing a high rise buildingwall, and for saving in labor, time, water and electricity is necessary,definitely.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The main object of the present invention is to provide anautomatic wall cleansing apparatus which can save labor, time, water andelectricity and improve work safety as well.

[0012] To achieve the above mentioned object, the present inventioncomprises a working platform, a lift unit, a supporting frame, arotatable brush assembly, a blower unit, and a control unit. The workingplatform is moved up to a working position. By means of presetting withthe control unit, the working platform is lifted to the topmost portionof the building and then gradually and downwardly executing cleansingwork with the aid of the wind supplied by the blower unit and rubbingoperation of the brush assembly against the wall. From supply ofdetergent, cleansing, spraying of clean water to hot wind drying, allthe steps are carried out successively in order without need of workingcrew to be lifted up to high altitude entrained on the work platform.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] For fuller understanding of the nature and objects of theinvention, reference should be made to the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

[0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing viewed from the top of the presentinvention;

[0015]FIG. 2 is a drawing illustrating operation of the brush assemblyof the present invention;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a drawing showing the state wherein the apparatus of thepresent invention is rested on the ground;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a drawing showing the operation state of the presentinvention;

[0018]FIG. 5 is a drawing showing the brush assembly in anotherembodiment of the present invention; and

[0019]FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating how the apparatus of the presentinvention is anchored on the building before operation.

[0020]FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 is a drawing illustrating another form brushassembly of the present invention is anchored on the building beforeoperation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the automatic wall cleansingapparatus of the present invention comprises: A working platform 1 foraccommodating equipment to be discussed later on, and providing space 11allowing working crew to stand thereof with a protecting railing 12therearound.

[0022] A lift unit 2 having two lifts 21 mounted respectively at twosides of the working platform 1, each lift 21 is hung by a steel cable22 which is anchored at the topmost position of the builiding wall 8,the working platform is thereby able to move up and down along thebuilding wall 8 following the movement of the steel wire 22.

[0023] A supporting frame 3 with its pivot axle 31 pivoted on theworking platform 1 such that the supporting frame 3 is turnable withrespect to the pivot axle 31, moreover, four castors 32 are provided forthe supporting frame 3, when the supporting frame 3 is turned to aposition perpendicular to the ground, the castors 32 may be used toentrain the working platform thereon and move it along on the ground.

[0024] A brush assembly 4 attached to the top portion of the supportingframe 3. The brush assembly 4 is composed of a rotatable brush unit 41formed in one piece, or several sub-brush units. A water baffle 42 ishinged, together with the brush unit 41, to the supporting frame 3, withits center of gravity set in a lower position. In doing so, the waterbaffle 42 may always be located at the position right behind the brushunit 41 without turning together with the supporting frame 3 therebypreventing the used water from spraying at the apparatus. In addition, aguide plate 421 is formed at the lower edge of the water baffle 42 sothat used water may be gathered with a hose to directly drain away intoa nearby sewage system. A row of nozzles 43 for supplying detergent byspraying is provided on the water baffle 42 at the position below thebrush unit 41, the nozzles 43 are connected to a detergent container 432(refer to FIG. 4) mounted on the working platform 1 with a hose 431. Onthe other hand, a row of nozzles 44 for supplying clean water 44 isprovided on the water baffle 42 at the position above the brush unit 41,the nozzle 44 are connected to a water supply source (not shown) with ahose 441. With this structure, the work of cleansing building a wall canbe performed orderly and effectively mixing clean water with detergentfirst, and then rubbing the wall surface with the brush unit 41.Meanwhile, the brush unit 41 is driven by a motor 45 mounted on thesupporting frame 3. In addition, in order to produce a relevant pressureagainst the wall surface, the tilted angle of the supporting frame 3with respect to the wall surface can be adjusted when cleansing the wallwith the brush unit 41.

[0025] A blower unit 5 including a blower body 51 is mounted on theworking platform 1, the blower body 51 has a wind output exit 52connected to the blower body 51 with a hose 53. The wind exit 52 isdisposed above the brush assembly 4 when cleaning the wall, and the windexit 52 is stretchable and retractable for conveniently performing thework. With this construction, the wall surface 8 can be quickly driedafter cleansing. Also, a heat accumulator 54 may be installed in theblower body 51 or at the wind output exit 52 so as to supply hot windfor performing instant drying of said wall surface.

[0026] A control unit 6 is mounted on the working platform 1 for controlof the lift unit 2, the supporting frame 3, the brush assembly 4, andthe blower unit 5 to work relevantly. A control board 61 is extended outof the control unit 6 therefrom both for automatic and manual operation.

[0027] Several detector units 7 are scatteringly equipped on the blowerunit 5, on the wind output terminal 52, or on the brush assembly 4 fordetecting the distance between the cleansing apparatus and the wallsurface 8 thereby automatically adjusting the brush assembly 4 tomaintain the most suitable inclined angle with the wall surface 8.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 3, the cleansing apparatus of the presentinvention can be mounted on the ground 9 with the castors 32 of thesupporting frame 3 and rolled long the ground 9 together with theworking platform 1 thereon.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 4, the steps of operating the cleansingapparatus of the present invention are; First, lift the working platform1 slightly off the ground 9, and turn the brush assembly 4 to a relevantworking angle by adjusting the supporting frame 3. Next, operate thecontrol board 61 to preset operation procedures of each componentdescribed above; Then, lifting the working platform 1 to the topmostposition of the building with lifts 21, and aim the detectors 7 at thewall surface 8. Bring down gradually the working platform 1 from itshighest point and at this moment the control unit 6 will automaticallyassign the brush assembly 4 to start working by driving the brush unit41 to rotate with the motor 45, and rubbing the wall surface 8 withwater mixed with detergent supplied by the nozzles 43. Finally, spraythe wall surface 8 with clean water supplied by the nozzles 44, and blowthe wall surface 8 with hot wind by the blower unit 5 if quick drying isrequired. After the work is completed, bring the working platform 1 downto the ground 9 and restore the supporting frame 3 to its normal uprightstate with the control unit 6, and then assure all components restorethe stand by state.

[0030] As mentioned above, the information of distance between thecleansing apparatus and the wall surface 8 is transmitted to the controlunit 6 with a signal outputted from the sensor 7 equipped at the windoutput terminal 52 or at other places so as to adjust the tilted angleof the brush assembly 4 to a relevant value thereby upgrading thecleansing quality. The used water mixed with detergent and dust on thewall surface 8 is partially flowing down along the wall surface 8,however, most of it would have scattered here and there by rotating ofthe brush assembly 4 if there had not been for installation of the waterbaffle 42. The water baffle 42 gathers most of used water and conductsit into the sewage system with the hose by the guide plate 421 so as toavoid environmental contamination. Other than automatic control, thecleansing work can be carried out manually by working crew standing onthe platform 1 and to operate the control board 61 step by step.

[0031]FIG. 5 shows the brush assembly 4 in another embodiment, in theembodiment, an auxiliary rotatable brush 46 is attached to each side ofthe brush unit 41. The auxiliary brush 46 is used to clean corners,recessed portions and other similar locations where the ordinary figuredbrush unit 41 can not reach to clean. In the case the auxiliary brush 46is not required, it can be detached while the vacancy thereof can bealternatively plugged in a soft protective filler ( not shown ) so as toprotect the cleansing apparatus from being inclined owing to attack ofstrong wind.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 6, the steel wire 22 of the lift 21 is drawn upand fixed at a anchor base 81 fixed on the topmost portion of the wallsurface 8. When both lifts 21 are started, the working platform 1 ismoved up and down along the wall surface 8 by pulling force of the steelwire 22.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the cleansing apparatus of the presentinvention is carried out in another form wherein the brush assembly 4 isformed into a plurality of plan contact circular disc brush units 47whose adjacent unit rotate in opposite direction each other driven by aninternal driving mechanism and a gear unit (not shown), similar to theprevious embodiment, after said wall surface 8 has been cleaned byspraying the detergent with said nozzles 43 thereon, it is rubbed andcleaned by said plurality of plan contact circular disc brush units 47rotating in opposite direction one another, afterward the clean water 44is sprayed at said wall surface 8 so as to finish the cleaning work,then the wall surface 8 is dried with wind supplied from said blowerunit 5, said detector 7 is equipped at a proper position on said brushassembly 4 so as to detect the distance between said cleansing apparatusand said wall surface 8 thereby auto matically adjusting the tiltedangle of said brush assembly to the most preferable direction for work.

[0034] After having finished reading over the above detailed descriptionof the present invention, one may clearly understand that the automaticwall cleansing apparatus of the present invention is definitely moreeconomical in the interest of labor, time, water and electricity, andmuch safer compared to resembling apparatuses made according toconventional techniques.

[0035] A variety of modifications and variations of the presentinvention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is thereforeto be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, thepresent invention may be practiced otherwise than as specially describedthereinabove.

What is claimed is:
 1. An automatic wall cleansing apparatus comprising:a working platform for entraining all equipment described below; a liftunit mounted on said working platform for moving said working platformup and down: a supporting frame turnably pivotted to said workingplatform; a brush assembly attached to the top portion of saidsupporting frame for cleansing a wall surface; a blower unit mounted onsaid working platform, said blower unit being located above said brushunit for supplying hot wind after said wall surface is cleansed; and acontrol unit mounted on said working platform for controlling workingfunction of said lift unit, said supporting frame, said brush assembly,and said blower unit.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a workingspace protected with a railing is provided for working crew to standthereon.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said lift unit includestwo lifts each hung by a steel cable which is anchored at the topmostposition of the building wall thereby driving said working platform toascend or descend along the wall surface.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein said supporting frame is pivotted to said working platform witha pivot axle such that said supporting frame is turnable with respect tosaid pivot axle, moreover, several castors are provided at the bottomportion so said supporting frame so that when said supporting frame isturned to a position perpendicular to the ground, said castors are usedto entrain said working platform thereon and move around on the ground.5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said brush assembly has a rotatablebrush unit, a water baffle provided behind said brush unit is hinged tosaid supporting frame together with said brush unit, a row of nozzlesfor supplying detergent by spraying is provided on said water baffle atthe position below said brush unit, said nozzles are connected to adetergent container mounted on said working platform with a hose, on theother hand, a row of nozzles for supplying clean water is provided onsaid water baffle at the position above said brush unit, said waternozzles are connected to a water supply source with a hose, with thisstructure, the work of cleansing said wall surface is performed orderlyand effectively by mixing clean water with detergent, and then rubbingsaid wall surface with said brush unit.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5,wherein said rotatable brush unit is formed in one whole piece ordivided in several pieces.
 7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein saidbrush unit is formed of a plan contact circular disc brush.
 8. Theapparatus of claim 5, wherein said brush unit is driven by a motormounted on said supporting frame.
 9. The apparatus of claim 5, whereinan auxiliary rotatable brush is optionally attached to each side of saidbrush unit for cleansing uneasily reachable corners of said wallsurface.
 10. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein a soft protective filleris plugged into each side of said brush unit so as to protect saidcleansing apparatus from being inclined owing to attack of strong windcausing damage to said wall surface or said cleansing apparatus.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 5, wherein a guide plate is formed at the lower edgeof said water baffle so that used water is gathered thereat and directlydischarged into a nearby sewage system.
 12. The apparatus of claim 5,wherein the center of gravity of said water baffle is set in a lowerposition so that said water baffle is always located at the positionright behind said brush unit without turning together with saidsupporting frame.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said blower unitincludes a blower body mounted on said working platform, said blowerbody has a wind output exit connected to said blower body with a hose,said wind exit is formed stretchable and retractable for convenience ofperforming work.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein a heataccumulator is installed in said blower body or at said wind exit so asto supply hot wind for performing instant drying of said wall surface.15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a control board is extended out ofsaid control unit.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a detector unitis equipped on said blower unit for detecting the distance between saidcleansing apparatus and said wall surface.
 17. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein, a detector unit is equipped on said brush assembly fordetecting the distance between said cleansing apparatus and said wallsurface.